Tuning up 1991 camry, which spark plug wires?

[ajstahl]

Hi all,

I'm doing a tuneup on my 1991 camry (base model, 3S-FE, manual transmission).

I want to get a new distributor cap and rotor. The old plug wires have a problem. The little rubber boot on the end is stuck on one of the spark plugs. The other three come out OK.

Is there a good way to remove it without too much disassembly? I was thinking either needle-nose pliers, a grabber hook, or putting some glue on the end of the shaft and letting it dry down there.

Another thing I'm wondering about: I'm trying to select a brand for the wire set on Rock Auto, but there are like 15 different brands on there. The prices also range from $13.99 to $63.79. How in the heck do you choose a brand? One is a Denso for $49.79, that is the OEM on these right?

Thanks for the help...

[71Corolla]

The rubber boot often comes off because it gets oil contaminated, which softens it up to the point where it does not grab onto the tube properly. So likely you need to replace the spark plug seals as well as the valve cover gasket. It's almost always cylinder #1 that has the problem.

As for wires, I've found the originals to be the best, if you can just grab a new boot from the wreckers. To pull the old one out, you'll need a hook type device, I made one out of a piece of aluminum, I ground a hook onto the end, but any type of hooked tool is okay.

If you need a "new" set, again I would try and get that from a salvage yard. If you want to go new, then get as close to OEM as possible. Something like this I think is as close as you can get to OEM without actually going to a dealer.

[ajstahl]

It is the #1 cylinder, if that's the one on the far left (looking in from front of vehicle). I'm also getting a Fel-Pro gasket set which includes the 4 spark plug grommet seals. I hope it's an easy job.